Friday Lineup Card: Cobb Returns, Beats M's

Hailing from Arcanum, Ohio, Clay is a proud graduate of the University of Wisconsin - Madison. He began writing for RotoWire in the fall of 2011, and now contributes to breaking news and NFL Draft content, in addition to his duties as assistant baseball editor.

Day-to-DayCarlos Gomez, OF, MIL - (Knee) Left Thursday's game with a sprain and will undergo an MRI on Friday.Andre Ethier, OF, LAD - (Calf) Expected back in the lineup Friday.Coco Crisp, OF, OAK - (Wrist) Could return to the lineup Friday.Mike Moustakas, 3B, KC - (Calf) Shed his walking boot and took part in light on-field work Thursday.Dayan Viciedo, OF, CHW - (Thumb) Missed his sixth straight start Thursday. Jed Lowrie, SS, OAK - (Knee) Dealing with soreness after being hit by a pitch Tuesday, but was in the lineup Thursday.Jordan Walden, P, ATL - (Hand) Hopes to return to the bullpen Friday against Washington.Jose Tabata, OF, PIT - (Illness) Held out of the lineup again Thursday.Wilson Ramos, C, WAS - (Hamstring) Reported feeling "much better" Thursday and expects to start behind the plate Friday.Nick Hundley, C, SD - (Personal) Placed on the paternity list Thursday and can miss up to three games.Wilmer Flores, 3B, NYM - (Ankle) Missed his third straight start Thursday.LaTroy Hawkins, P, NYM - (Groin) Status for Thursday was in question after he took a groundball to his groin area Wednesday.Sandy Rosario, P, SF - (Ribs) Diagnosed with a bruised sternum.

Players on the DLDerek Jeter, SS, NYY - (Calf) Return date remain unclear, though he took batting practice, fielded grounder and ran sprints Wednesday.Reed Johnson, OF, ATL - (Achilles) Remains unable to run.Matt Guerrier, P, CHC - (Elbow) Seeking a second opinion on his right forearm flexor tear.Wandy Rodriguez, P, PIT - (Forearm) Completed a bullpen session Wednesday and is set to throw again Friday.Eric Chavez, 3B, ARI - (Knee) Received two cortisone shots this week.Roy Oswalt, P, COl - (Hamstring) Hopes to throw a side session over the weekend.Tony Cruz, C, STL - (Forearm) Hit the 15-day DL on Thursday with a stress fracture.Roy Halladay, P, PHI - (Shoulder) Gave up three runs over six innings, throwing 87 pitches in a rehab start for the Phillies' rookie-level club Thursday.Angel Pagan, OF, SF - (Hamstring) Set to begin a rehab assignment Friday with the Giants' rookie-level club.Rickie Weeks, 2B, MIL - (Hamstring) Underwent successful surgery Thursday and is out for the rest of the year.Jason Marquis, P, SD - (Elbow) Moved to the 60-day DL on Thursday.Travis Hafner, DH, NYY - (Shoulder) Has not yet started swinging a bat, but thinks he will be able to play at some point in September.David Phelps, NYY - (Forearm) Transferred to the 60-day DL on Thursday.John Jaso, C, OAK - (Concussion) Remains without a timetable for return.Josh Johnson, P, TOR - (Forearm) Diagnosed with a strained forearm and is without a timetable for returned.Cameron Maybin, OF, SD - (Knee) Ready to resume his rehab assignment with Triple-A Tucson in "a day or two."

Baltimore - Jim Johnson blew another save Wednesday, his third in six days and ninth of the year. He's now allowed seven hits and two walks in his last three innings pitched, and despite still leading all of baseball in saves with 39, Johnson appears to be on rocky ground at the moment. The Orioles' decision to get out ahead of the trade market and acquire Francisco Rodriguez last month is looking better by the day, as K-Rod has given up just two hits while striking out nine in his last five appearances. Roles haven't formally changed yet, but one more poor outing from Johnson could lead manager Buck Showalter to consider inserting Rodriguez into the closer's role at least temporarily, to allow Johnson some time to work things out.

Detroit - A day after recording the final five outs of a win over the White Sox, Joaquin Benoit pitched a scoreless inning against the Royals on Thursday for his 16th save of the season. The right-hander has really run away with the closer's job, with zero runs allowed in July (11 appearances) and six saves already in August.

Recommended PickupAlex Cobb, P, TB - Cobb toed the major-league rubber Thursday for the first time since June 15, when he was hit in the head by a line drive in a game against Kansas City. The gruesome injury interrupted what looked destined to be a breakout year for Cobb, who posted a 6-2 record and a 3.01 ERA through the first two and a half months of the season. In his return Thursday against Seattle, the right-hander threw five innings of one-run ball, allowing just three hits and two walks while striking out six in the win. It may take him a little while to get comfortable after such a long layoff, but Cobb should get plenty of run support, so it's reasonable to think he could still surpass the 11 wins he posted last season.

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